Jose(Joe) Luis Martinez Sr. Was born on April 12, 1958, to parents Arculano(Cano) and Isabel Martinez in Lockney Texas. While his mother was from Mason, Joe's family didn't settle in Mason until December of 1967 making him 9 years old. Joe lived in Lockney, Abernathy, Mathis, Lubbock, Slayton, Post, and finally Mason, Texas.  He and his family were migratory farmers planting, hoeing, and picking cotton throughout south Texas and the Texas Panhandle and sugarcane in South Texas.  Joe had four brothers and four sister all of whom were born along the way.  From a very young age, they worked very hard long hours in some harsh Texas conditions.  Joe loved Mason where he and his father and brothers began a life of carpentry work. They started working for Jr Edgar Leifeste and eventually partnered with the Hooten Brothers Construction and Lumber yard.  During this time they still traveled every summer to work the cotton fields of the Texas panhandle.  Football two-a-days marked the signal for the cotton summer season to end.  Another reason why he loved playing football so much he excelled as a running back and was added to the varsity lineup his freshman year and was named Mr. Football in his final season of 1977.  He was a member of the state qualified Mile Relay team of 1977.  By all accounts he was "Pretty Tough".  He loved Mason Puncher Football and had only missed 3 or so home games since his last game as a player in 1977.  He also enjoyed track and could be found at Mason track meets with his own personal stopwatch timing up-and-coming runners. His stopwatch was always ready to keep an official timer honest when his sons were competing. All this paled in comparison to the deep and powerful love he had for his wife Irene and later his sons.  High school sweethearts, they married shortly after graduation on June 30, 1979 and celebrated 41 wonderful years.  Joe went to work for the City of Mason in May of 1979 and served the city for 40 years. He held various positions over the years and had been the supervisor for the water, street, waste water, parks, and swimming departments. He felt a sense of ownership of the streets and water of "His" beloved Mason. His community involvement wasn't just limited to his work with the city. He was an excellent cook and leant his skills to the wild game dinner, wounded warriors, JCs, Operation Orphans, and countless weddings and funerals. He volunteered with the community thrift store committee, Mason Fire Department, Meals on Wheels, and the school board which afforded him the ability to present his youngest son with his high school diploma at graduation. As a young couple Joe and Irene bought their first and only home just a few blocks from the school where they met. In 1980 they welcomed their oldest son Little Joe and in 1984 Marcus completed their little family.  Big Joe loved everything his boys did and supported them in it all. For twelve years of Football, basketball, track, cross country, baseball, powerlifting, he used all his vacation and sick leave to be in the stands for it all.  The years came and went but this family and their home became an anchor and safe landing place for many. Big Joe as he was affectionately known, instilled a love of the land and of the river in his boys and all who interacted with him. His own mother having been born on the banks of the Llano River, his blood was tied to this place. After family, his greatest pride in life was the purchase and development of the Dos Hermanos River Place on the Llano just down river from the James River confluence.  This beautiful property which he loved became the backdrop for countless celebrations, baptisms, wedding showers, baby showers, birthdays, class reunions, city employee parties, puncher away game radio broadcasts, camp outs, the list goes on and on. Big Joe held many titles over the years; supervisor, fire fighter, coach, pit master, friend, neighbor, father, husband... but none did he wear with as much honor as Grandfather. The Big Joe name was replaced with "Honey" as his grandsons and wife affectionately called him.   He fell head over heels for these two little boys. No kid could ask for a better grandfather. He was always down for a cuddle, a story, a nap or a race. Wrestling was the preferred past time for these 3 and they Loved it.

After 40 + years with the city a wonderful retirement send-off was celebrated at the end of 2019. This great man was the rock on which his family was built, a pillar in his community, and loved by so many people who's lives he touched. He will be greatly missed by all those left behind in his void. Joe went to be with his Lord and Savior on August 22, 2020 and is survived by his loving wife Irene Orozpe Martinez, Sons Joe and wife Laura of Bulverde and Marcus of San Antonio and girlfriend Lois Price of Dallas, grandsons Hayes Rio and Judson Llano his sister Rosa (Ernesto) Morquecho of Mason, sister Irene (Joe) Gutierrez of Mason, brother Danny(Becky) of Mason, sister Martha (Michael) Lopez of San Angelo, brother Chappo of Mason, sister Amelia (Tony) Pena of San Angelo, Mother in law Amanda Orozpe of Mason, sister in law Mary Lou Farias of Ft. Worth, brother in law Salvador (Sandra) Orozpe of San Antonio, sister in law Veronica (Keith) Hausenfluke of Ft. Worth, sister in law Angelica Mancillas of Ft. Worth, sister in law Irma (Hank) Ceynowa of San Marcos, and countless nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Martin and Sammy Martinez, and father in law Macario Agustine Orozpe.

Joe will be in state for public visitation and viewing on Friday, August 28, starting at 10:00 a.m.. Visitation with the family will be from 5-7 with rosary to follow at 7:00p.m., at Mason Funeral Home. A celebration of life will be held at the Puncher Dome on Saturday August 29, at 10:30 a.m. with burial at the Gooch cemetery in Mason, TX to follow.

Pallbearers: Joe Martinez Jr. (Little Joe), Marcus Martinez, Danny Martinez, Chappo Martinez, Salvador Orozpe, Juan Farias, Adrian Medrano, Pete Munoz

Honorary Pallbearers: Hayes Rio Martinez, Judson Llano Martinez, Homer Sanchez, John Palacio, Cody Farmer, Miguel Arteaga, Donald Schulze, Scott Zesch, Charlie Hoerster, Randy Stockbridge

Face masks and social distancing will be required for all services.